Precedence is the idea that one thing comes first, or counts more, than another. If safety takes precedence over speed, then when the two fight, safety wins — you deal with it first and you let the other one wait. The word almost always appears in a small set of phrases: 'take precedence over', 'give precedence to', 'have precedence over', and 'in order of precedence'.

Precedence Precedence is the idea這個概念是說 that one thing comes first, or counts more, than another一件事比另一件先、或比較重要 If safety takes precedence over speed如果safety takes precedence over speed（安全優先於速度） then when the two fight當兩者衝突時 safety wins安全勝出 you deal with it first你先處理它 and you let the other one wait讓另一個等 The word這個字 almost always appears in a small set of phrases幾乎都固定出現在幾個片語裡 'take precedence over', 'give precedence to', 'have precedence over', and 'in order of precedence'像「take precedence over」、「give precedence to」、「have precedence over」，還有「in order of precedence」。

It has two flavours that are close but not the same. The everyday one is about importance: a nurse decides which patient takes precedence. The formal one is about fixed rank and order — at a state dinner or a royal ceremony, there is an official 'order of precedence' saying who walks in first, who sits nearest the host. That older meaning is where the word comes from, and it still gives the word a stiff, official feeling.

It has two flavours它有兩種味道 that are close but not the same很接近，但不完全一樣 The everyday one日常那一種 is about importance跟重要性有關 a nurse decides which patient takes precedence像護理師決定哪個病人優先 The formal one正式那一種 is about fixed rank and order跟固定的位階、順序有關 at a state dinner or a royal ceremony在國宴或皇室典禮上 there is an official 'order of precedence'有一份官方的「order of precedence」（位次表） saying who walks in first規定誰先走進去 who sits nearest the host誰坐得離主人最近 That older meaning這個較舊的意思 is where the word comes from就是這個字的出處 and it still gives the word a stiff, official feeling也讓這個字至今還帶著僵硬、正式的感覺。

This is office and news English, not chat English. A friend does not say 'my family takes precedence' at dinner; they say 'my family comes first'.

This is office and news English這是辦公室和新聞用的英文 not chat English不是聊天用的英文 A friend does not say一個朋友不會說 'my family takes precedence' at dinner晚餐時說「my family takes precedence」 they say他們會說 'my family comes first'「my family comes first」（我家人優先）。

Note also that a rule can take precedence over another rule, which is really about which one you apply — in law and in computer settings, 'this setting takes precedence' just means this is the one that wins. Careful: in law, the word for an earlier case that guides later ones is precedent, not precedence.

Note also另外也要注意 that a rule can take precedence over another rule一條規則可以take precedence over另一條規則 which is really about which one you apply這其實是在講你要套用哪一條 in law and in computer settings在法律和電腦設定裡 'this setting takes precedence' just means「this setting takes precedence」意思就只是 this is the one that wins這是勝出的那一個 Careful小心 in law在法律裡 the word for an earlier case that guides later ones指引後來案子的較早案例 is precedent, not precedence那個字是precedent（判例），不是precedence。